J. Cole - "Can't Get Enough" (feat. Trey Songz)

Jermaine drops his second track off Cole World: The Sideline Story. A couple thoughts:

1) Cole's flow and lyrical prowess, this time his crosshairs are aimed at a fine female, are continually crafted. One of the hottest out right now.

2) The production is top-notch. Sounds like something Timbaland would cut, but without unnecessary bombast.

3) While the hook is catchy enough, one would expect a lot more from Treyz's brief spot. Could've really gone to anyone.

4) Still excited for Sept. 27.

Download: J. Cole - "Can't Get Enough (feat. Trey Songz)

MySpace: J. Cole

Video: Taking Back Sunday - "Yer So Bad" (Tom Petty Cover)

These Nervous Energies sessions are popping up everywhere. Thankfully, this time they've bestowed on us Adam Lazzara and John Nolan of Taking Back Sunday fame covering Tom Petty's 1989 cut "Yer So Bad". While the two definitely fulfill the nervous part of the gig, they manage to maintain the song's playfulness and preserve the uniquely nasally harmonies that makes Tom Petty the man.



MySpace: Taking Back Sunday

The Gaslight Anthem - "Biloxi Parish"

The Gaslight Anthem have performed "Biloxi Parish" live a couple of times, but we haven't gotten a good taste of it until a high-quality mp3 of the song surfaced yesterday. It definitely holds up to the stellar bar the band has set for themselves, boasting a chunky backing that leans more into AC/DC territory than their usual Springsteen homage. I'm not sure who "user761012" is, but we all owe him/her a great deal of gratitude.

Hear: The Gaslight Anthem - "Biloxi Parish"

MySpace: The Gaslight Anthem

Nas - "More Than I Can Say" (feat. Keyshia Cole)

Nasty Nas releases another street-ready cut, this time allowing Keyshia Cole to bless a beautifully soulful hook. Not sure if all of these new tunes are hinting that a proper release is on it's way, but I'm not complaining so long as he keeps them coming.

Download: Nas - "More Than I Can Say" (feat. Keyshia Cole)

MySpace: Nas

Psyhic Babble - "Samantha"

Alternative Press has the digs on another new track from Colin Frangicetto's Psychic Babble project. This one maintains a psychedelic feel while working in both roots-rock and blues elements; think Good Old War gone Animal Collective if that makes any sense.

My Brother's Ears/My Sister's Eyes drops Aug. 16...should be a welcome addition to your end of summer rotation.

Hear: Psychic Babble - "Samantha"

MySpace: Psychic Babble

Video: Raphael Saadiq - "Movin' Down the Line"

Raphael Saadiq debuted another video off Stone Rollin', interweaving clips of his live performances with snapshots of him with his family, friends, and beautiful lady. I've been criminally neglecting this record, but I have a feeling that'll change now that the sun's been out awhile.



MySpace: Raphael Saadiq

Video: The Game - "Pot of Gold" (feat. Chris Brown)

The Game drops a video for the most single-ready cut he's had in a long time, thanks largely in part to C-Breezy's spot. Pretty standard concept as it stays in line with Starface's Compton roots, that is, until Chris Brown indulges in a obligatory MJ homage near the end.

The R.E.D. Album finally drops Aug. 23.



MySpace: The Game

Video: The Weeknd - "Wicked Games"/"The After Party" (Live at The Mod Club)

Abel Tesfaye ironically unveiled himself as the brain child behind The Weeknd this past weekend at a performance in his hometown of Toronto. Below are two cuts off House of Balloons, my original favorite "Wicked Games" and the second-half of my current favorite "The Party/The After Party." He sounded excellent and the live backing band--especially the beautiful girl who was rocking bass, keys, and backup vocals--was a genius touch.

It's funny to see how shell-shocked he was by the amount of people who knew the words to his song, but he'll catch on quick. Dude is about to blow the fuck up.





Official Website: The Weeknd

Video: Zechs Marquise - Getting Paid (Teaser II)

El Paso-based progressive rock outfit Zechs Marquise has been on my radar even since they were turning heads on their tour with Rx Bandits. I've been sleeping on them for sometime now, but I guess there's no better time to jump on the bandwagon than right before their first LP drops. Check below for a teaser (apparently the second on) and click it here for the tracklisting.

Getting Paid is slated to drop Sept. 27. Commence air guitar solo.



MySpace: Zechs Marquise

Video: Childish Gambino - Camp (Teaser)

I'll admit that I haven't listened to much Childish Gambino aside from "Freaks and Geeks", but I'll definitely give his upcoming debut a listen. Here's a short teaser for the record, dropping in the near future, with a clip of a new song that's beat sounds like, well, "Freaks and Geeks".

Camp is ominously dropping "soon".

Untitled from Donald Glover on Vimeo.

MySpace: Childish Gambino

Video: Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "Dayman" (Live at Comic-Con)

Dayman....Ahhh-aaaaaaaha. So glad this actually happened.

Video: Kanye West & Jay-Z - Watch the Throne Documentary

Jay and Yeezy let us in behind the scenes of Watch the Throne while discussing their relationship, work ethic, and love for music in vaguely epic fashion. Say what you want about them, but you'll be hard pressed to find any artists more ambitious and motivated to be the best than these two. Oh, and there's a Russell Crowe sighting.
Watch the Throne is set to wreck minds on Aug. 2nd.

Kanye West & Jay-Z: Watch The Throne Documentary from introspective on Vimeo.

Kanye West & Jay-Z - "Otis"

God lord. I'm a complete sucker for soul samples and who better to homage than Otis Redding himself. With Kanye behind the boards and Jay going, well, H.A.M., you know it's going to be on point.

If this is the level all of Watch the Throne is at, I'm not sure it will be safe to release.

Jack's Mannequin - "My Racing Thoughts"

I always had a soft spot for everything Andrew McMahon has done and this is no exception, especially considering the Tom Petty vibe he continues to harness as he matures. I expected to outgrow Jack's Mannequin at some point (ya, gotta be a snob sometimes,) but that day doesn't look to be on it's way just yet.
People and Things drops Oct. 4th.



MySpace: Jack's Mannequin

Video: Ellie Goulding - "Lights" (Bassnectar Remix)

This is apparently a re-work of the original video, but I wouldn't know since I didn't give a fuck about this song until Bassnectar blessed it. Lots of, well, lights (thumbs down)--and Ellie Goulding grinding (thumbs up). Love this remix though...if you haven't driven to it yet, do so and I'll reimburse for the ensuing speeding ticket.

The last part was a joke. Moochers.




MySpace: Ellie Goulding

Video: Ryan Adams - "Mansard Roof"/"Oxford Comma" (Vampire Weekend Cover)

Off the back of his Alice in Chains cover, Ryan Adams--looking like a cross between Rivers Cuomo and Harry Potter--delivers laid-back takes of two songs off Vampire Weekend's self-titled jaunt that he conceptualized while "imagining being on a beach made of diamonds with a darkened night sky full of twinkling sand."


Watch: Ryan Adams - "Mansard Roof"/"Oxford Comma" (Vampire Weekend Cover)


MySpace: Ryan Adams

Video: Neon Indian - "Heart: Attack"/"Heart: Decay"

Neon Indian is prepping for it's follow-up to 2009's Psychic Chasms via teaser videos for the three-part instrumental piece entitled "Heart". Each of the first two installments--"Attack" and "Decay"-- feature Alan Palomo wandering around the wintery wonderland of Helsinki with notebook firmly in hand. Not sure if I get it, but the visuals are cool and the song is groovy as hell.

Era Extraña will drop Sept. 13th.

NEON INDIAN - HEART: ATTACK from gorillavsbear.net on Vimeo.

NEON INDIAN - HEART : DECAY from gorillavsbear.net on Vimeo.

MySpace: Neon Indian

The Dangerous Summer - "Work in Progress" (Acoustic)

I've been looking for a reason to post about The Dangerous Summer since I've been listening to Warpaint pretty much non-stop for the last two weeks. Head to the boys Purevolume page to check out an acoustic rendition of "Work in Progress" that maintains the raw power that makes it one of the heaviest songs they've written to date.

If that's not enough TDS goodness for you, hit this link to check out a full 30-minute set from their Warped Tour performance in Mansfield, MA.

Hear: The Dangerous Summer - "Work in Progress" (Acoustic)

MySpace: The Dangerous Summer

Thrice - "Yellow Belly"

Whilst Thrice released a batch of new U.S. tour dates earlier today, they also unexpectedly debuted the first song off Major/Minor. It certainly picks up where Beggars left off, but there is also a sludgy heaviness that smacks more of their older tracks than the experimental noodling of their more recent ish. I dig.

Major/Minor hits stores Sept. 20.

Download: Thrice - "Yellow Belly"

MySpace: Thrice

Anthony Green - "Someone You'd Admire" (Fleet Foxes Cover)

Ant--or at least someone with the same silhouette--takes on a cut from Fleet Foxes latest Helplessness Blues to awesome results. What's not to like when you got these two sounds linking up?



MySpace: Anthony Green

Video: The Dark Knight Rises - Teaser

Anyone who went to see the last Harry Potter flick was treated to a first-look at what is expected to be the last Batman flick (at least with Christopher Nolan at the helm.) For all us who still have 'Arry on our to-do list, hit the link below to catch the teaser. Not a lot is revealed, but who cares, it's Dark Knight.

Watch: The Dark Knight Rises - Teaser

M83 - "Midnight City"

While I can proudly boast that I have each of M83's previous efforts in my iTunes library--hipster cred, what up--I can't say that I've given them the rotations they deserve. Now Anthony Gonzalez is back with a new double-disc LP entitled Hurry Up, We're Dreaming slated for an Oct. 16 release. Like the band on Facebook or send them your e-mail address to get the first single "Midnight City", packed with more of that trademarked 80s-inspired dream-pop they do so well.

Download: M83 - "Midnight City"

MySpace: M83

The Horrible Crowes - "Behold the Hurricane"

Brian Fallon and Ian Perkins progress their deliberate unveiling of their Horrible Crowes project, moving up from a 90-second clip to a full song. The band's sound was initially described as "nighttime music," something you can certainly hear in this mid-tempo rocker, along with Fallon's ever-present genius.

Elsie is slated to drop on September 16th.

Hear: The Horrible Crowes - "Behold the Hurricane"

MySpace: The Horrible Crowes

Video: Washed Out - "Eyes Be Closed"

Ernest Greene drops off his first video off Within and Without, and while the record has served as essential summer road trip music for me, I don't think I've experienced the same "satisfaction" nor had it take me to a far off land of geometric shapes like it has for this blinged-out, leopard-clad vixen.



MySpace: Washed Out

Jazz Cartier - "Gold & Girls" (feat. Darryl Riley)

So far Toronto has given us one bonafide superstar (Drake) and will likely add another once The Weeknd fully comes up. I think another top candidate might be 17-year-old (you read that right) Jazz Cartier who is dropping nonsense tracks left and right. Here's his newest entitled "Gold & Girls", showcasing Jazz confidently confronting a beat that's equal party hypnosis and go-go thumping.

The single art ain't have bad neither.

Download: Jazz Cartier - "Gold & Girls" (feat. Darryl Riley)

MySpace: Jazz Cartier

Ryan Adams - "Shining Through the Dark"/ "Empty Rooms

I was gonna give you some motivation for checking these out, but fuck it...they're new Ryan Adams. What else do you need?

Also check out his rendition of Alice in Chains classic "Nutshell". Dude is so badass.

Hear: Ryan Adams - "Shining Through the Dark" / "Empty Rooms"

MySpace: Ryan Adams

Video: Cults - "Go Outside"

If you expected Cults video for "Go Outside" to feature them frolicking in a field or splashing rainbow colored paint on one another, you're in for a surprise. Instead the duo superimposed themselves into stock footage from the late 1960s and give a four-minute history lesson of their own. Somehow, it's makes sense.

Go Outside, by Cults from Boing Boing on Vimeo.

bandcamp: Cults

Wale - "Bad Girls Club" (feat. J. Cole)

I expected big things after hearing these two--especially J. Cole--destroy "Beautiful Bliss". While the steel drum-propelled instrumental (think: Rihanna's "What's My Name") and Cole's hook are solid, the verses leave something to be desired. Might be a grower, but I won't hold my breath.

Watch for this on Wale's newest LP, Ambition, due out this Fall.

Download: Wale - "Bad Girls Club" (feat. J. Cole)

MySpace: Wale

Sainthood Reps - "Monoculture"

It seems like Long Island is a fertile breeding ground for excellent hardcore bands. Sainthood Reps is the area's newest spawn, a project created by Francesco Montesanto and Brand New's fifth-man Derrick Sherman. Absolutepunk got the digs on the title track for their debut LP, which strings a freak-show guitar line on top of a sludgy bassline and thumping kitwork.

Monoculture will drop on August 9th.

Stream: Sainthood Reps - "Monoculture"

MySpace: Sainthood Reps

Stream: Portugal. The Man. - In the Moutain In the Cloud

Although John Gourley described the creation of the band's fifth album in five years as a "total mess," the end product came out better than they could have hoped. Take the 60s psychedelia of The Beatles and Pink Floyd, but set its roots into the deep wilderness of Alaska, you have what may be the most complex, but impressive Portugal. The Man. record to date.

In the Mountain In the Cloud hits stores July 19th

Stream: Portugal. The Man. - In the Mountain In the Cloud

MySpace: Portugal. The Man.

Video: Boardwalk Empire - Season 2 Teaser

I loved the first season of this show and now can't be more excited for the second season to start after watching this teaser. Plenty of the great storylines crafted in the previous episodes look to be continued, while things build toward a head and what looks like a shit ton of fireworks.

Boardwalk Empire: Season 2 aires in September.

Psychic Babble - "You Said It"

I hadn't gotten around to checking out any Psychic Babble (a.k.a Colin Frangicetto of Circa Survive) material until now and hot damn was I missing out. I think SPIN, who is hosting his new song "You Said It" for free download, described the sound perfectly: "Cure-sounding guitar with handclaps, sunny keyboard swells, and an upbeat lyrical take on a new love."

If that's up your alley (no homo), check out My Brother's Ears/My Sister's Eyes when it drops Aug. 16th.

Download: Psychic Babble - "You Said It"

MySpace: Psychic Babble

Blocks - "Waiting Around to Die in California"

We haven't heard from Blocks (a.k.a former As Tall As Lions frontman Dan Nigro) in awhile, so it's only fitting he drops off a new track this week. I was so-so on the instrumentation here until the steamy synths and meandering 80s bassline worked it's way into the picture.

Download: Blocks - "Waiting Around to Die in California"

Wale - "First Class" (feat. Big Sean and B.o.B.)

As a DMV resident, it's hard for me to hate on anything Wale has done. That being said, even I can admit his recent efforts with MMG have been lackluster. So Mr. Folarin decided to team up with his freshman classmates and get back to his roots. All of them throw out respectable bars, but Sean--despite a couple recycled lines--still takes the crown on this one. With all the weed and flying metaphors I'm not quite sure why Wiz didn't show up here also...

Download: Wale - "First Class" (feat. Big Sean and B.o.B.)

MySpace: Wale

Anthony Green - "Big Mistake"

Step away from the internetz for a few days and you could miss a new Ant Green song. A jangly stomp complemented with pleading wails, this one showcases a much more upbeat and experimental sound than previously heard on Avalon.

If this is what Beautiful Things has in store, I'm really stoked. Plus the artwork is hilarious.



Download: Anthony Green - "Big Mistake"

MySpace: Anthony Green

Video: The Dangerous Summer - "War Paint"

Fellow MD brethren The Dangerous Summer continue to build up hype for their follow-up to 2009's stellar Reach for the Sun by dropping a video for the title track off their sophomore release. While the visuals aren't anything special, the band has again proved to be unequivocally solid in a pop-rock genre diluted by a barrage of neon colors, overused electronic enhancements, and general bullshit.

War Paint drops July 19th...do yourself a favor and get at it.



MySpace: The Dangerous Summer

Stream: The Cool Kids - When Fish Ride Bicycles

You can attribute the recent lack of posting to an awesome week spent at the beach with friends and family where "Swimsuits" was bumped early and often. Nearly four years in the making, I haven't given this a listen yet, but it's hard to imagine it'll be anything short of trunk-rattling awesomeness.

When Fish Ride Bicycles officially drops on July 12th.

Stream: The Cool Kids - When Fish Ride Bicycles

MySpace: The Cool Kids

Video: Coldplay - "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall"

Coldplay fashion a video that is as colorful and splashy as the single itself. While the band seems to be veering both visually and message-wise into psychedelic Beatles territory, this song is straight-up epic arena rock at it's finest.

Every Teardrop is a Waterfall EP is out now.



MySpace: Coldplay

Drake and The Weeknd - "Trust Issues" (Grizzle Remix)

Some online DJ named Grizzle took Drake's new single and weaved it together with The Weeknd's take on said tune. While there's not a lot of deviation from what was brought to the original tracks, the mashup is so seamless it's like both guys are trading vocals. Props Grizz.

Download: Drake and The Weeknd - "Trust Issues" (Grizzle Remix)

Video: DJ Khaled - "I'm On One" (feat. Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil' Wayne)

Although he does little more than shout obnoxiously on the track, DJ Khaled takes this video for himself, fashioning it as an ode to Miami and folding in introspective shot of himself sipping a Four Loko on a penthouse balcony. Which of these things just doesn't belong...

Still love the song and even more in love with their choice on video vixens, especially Rozay's ladyfriend sprawled on that back of his ride. Lawdy!



MySpace: DJ Khaled